|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to improving nutrition and health outcomes among |
|
recipients of benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance |
|
program. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY. The |
|
legislature finds that: |
|
(1) Texans are committed to ensuring the health of |
|
families and children and understand the importance of the role |
|
preventive health care measures have on population health and the |
|
state economy; |
|
(2) consuming healthy foods such as fruits, |
|
vegetables, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and |
|
seafood, and consuming fewer foods with sodium, saturated and trans |
|
fats, added sugars, and refined grains, are important preventive |
|
health care measures; and |
|
(3) public benefits programs that provide recipients |
|
with access to an adequate and nutritional diet should incorporate |
|
sound nutritional principles and promote the health and well-being |
|
of recipients. |
|
SECTION 2. WAIVER OR OTHER AUTHORIZATION TO IMPROVE |
|
NUTRITION AND HEALTH OUTCOMES UNDER CERTAIN PROGRAMS. (a) The |
|
executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission |
|
shall develop and seek a waiver or other appropriate authorization |
|
from the United States secretary of agriculture under Section 17, |
|
Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. Section 2026), to make |
|
changes to the supplemental nutrition assistance program provided |
|
under Chapter 33, Human Resources Code, to improve nutrition and |
|
health outcomes among recipients of benefits under the program. |
|
(b) In developing the waiver or other authorization under |
|
Subsection (a) of this section, the executive commissioner of the |
|
Health and Human Services Commission may consider the feasibility, |
|
including the costs and benefits, of: |
|
(1) restricting the purchase of certain food items |
|
with minimal nutritional value under the supplemental nutrition |
|
assistance program; and |
|
(2) promoting healthy food choices by recipients of |
|
benefits under the program. |
|
(c) In developing the waiver or other authorization under |
|
Subsection (a) of this section, the executive commissioner of the |
|
Health and Human Services Commission shall solicit input from |
|
interested persons, including state agencies that administer |
|
nutritional assistance programs, nonprofit organizations that |
|
administer hunger relief programs, health care providers, |
|
nutrition experts, food retailers, and food industry |
|
representatives. |
|
(d) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this |
|
Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services |
|
Commission shall apply for and actively pursue the waiver or other |
|
authorization as required by Subsection (a) of this section. |
|
SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
|
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
|
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
|
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
|
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |